Gravitating hinge.



. PATENTED JULY 14, 1908. E. :LMBYERS.

GRAVITATIN-G HINGE.

A PPLIOATION FILED FEB. 6. 1908- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. MEYERS, OF STAPLEI-IURST, N EBRASKA, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-FOURTH TO JOHN H. ERFORD, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, AND ONE-FOURTH TO ELTON J. ERFORD AND ONE- FOURTH TO JOSEPH H. SLONEOKER, OF STAPLEHURST, NEBRASKA.

GRAVITATING- HINGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. MEYE Rs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Staplehurst, in the county of Seward and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Gravitating I-Iinges, of which t e following is a specificatlon.

This invention relates to builders hardware and particularly to hinges.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel hinge which will automatically close the gate b gravity; the said hinge also serving to e evate the gate as it is swun on the hmges, causing the gate to swing c ear of the ground.

A further object of this invention is to produce hinges, each hinge comprising two parts in engagement, one riding on. the other, with a cam-like action to accomplish the result heretofore stated.

Furthermore, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel device of the characreference will be had to the accomp ter noted, which will be simple in construction, efficient in practice, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Wlth the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists in the'details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, anying drawing forming part of this specnication wherein like characters denote corres ondmg parts 1n the several vlews, 1n whic Flgure 1, is a view in elevation, showing a gate with hinges embodying-the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2, 1s an enlarged detail view of one of the hinges. Fig. 3, 1s a detail view of a section of a hinge detached. Fig. 4, is an end view of one of the hinge sections. f

In these drawings A, denotes a hinge comprising the sections a, b, approximate y U-shaped, with the ends thereof provided with apertures for the reception of securing devices, such as bolts D.

The ortion B,-of the bin c section between t e parallel portions extends aphereinafter more I proximately at right angles to the parallel ortions and the said portion B, is ent to orm a coil which engages a similar coil F, extending between the parallel portions G, of the, opposite hinge member.

The hinge members may be inexpensively constructed of round iron and bent into the form shown, in order that the section will interlock, as shown in Fig. 2, and when the section of the hinge which is secured to the gate is moved with relation to a stationary section which is secured to the post, the camming action of. the engaging surfaces will cause the moving section to climb, thus elevating the gate clear of the ground. The weight of the gate after it has been opened will be sufficient to cause the return of the gate to the closed position, as the movable section of the hinge will ride down the inclined surface of the coil.

As an additional bearing for the movable section, and designed also to increase the efficiency and durability of the hinge, the corners H, of the member are curved to form camming surfaces over which the under surface of the moving member travels, and the degree of curve of the corner is preferably equal to the curve of the coiled portion of the hinge. This relation of the parts provides for equal wear of the several engaging surfaces of the hinge.

In order to ermit the gate to'swing back parallel with tile fence it will be seen that the movable section of the hinge will ride up over the corner H of the stationary section, thus elevating the portion of the movable section, which is secured to the gate, out of alinement with corres onding portions of the fixed member of the hinge. By this arrangement, the sections of the hinges when swung fully open stand one above the other and no obpermit the movable ob'eot to be swung with in the presence of two Witnesses this 3rd day relation to the fixed 0 ject, the portions of of February, 1908. the "movable section of the hinge secured to the movable obj eot being elevated above the EDWARD MEYERS' 5 plane of the portions of the hinge secured to Witnesses:

the fixed obj ect. C. M. FRANKLIN,

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature EDWARD VANCE. 

